IPS Service Manager
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
- Posted
- 14/08/2026
- Closes
- 06/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
Livewell Southwest is seeking an experienced IPS Service Manager to lead and develop its Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service across community mental health pathways and recovery inpatient services. This role involves leading the delivery of the IPS service, overseeing performance, managing a team of IPS professionals, and ensuring employment support is integrated within mental health services. The manager will develop strategic vision, implement business plans, and build partnerships to help people with mental health needs access and sustain meaningful employment.
Essential criteria
- Level 7 qualification (Masters degree or equivalent experience)
- -
- Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- -
- Formal leadership/management qualification at Level 7 or demonstrable equivalent leadership experience at a senior level
Desirable criteria
- Postgraduate qualification in leadership, service improvement, or
- quality improvement
- -
- IPS-specific training (e.g. IPS Grow, fidelity training)
- -
- Coaching, supervision, or practice educator qualification
- Specific Skills
- Ability to lead, motivate and manage staff
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Ability to analyse information and make informed decisions
- Planning and organisational skills to manage competing priorities
- Advanced coaching and supervision capability
- Experience delivering training or presentations
- Digital literacy across NHS reporting systems
- Significant experience in: Secondary mental health services and/or Employment/vocational support services (e.g. IPS)
- Demonstrable experience of: Leading and managing teams/service
- delivery
- Delivering against contractual targets and KPIs Performance management, supervision and staff development
- -
- Experience of multi-agency partnership working (NHS, local authority, DWP, VCSE)
- Experience working with individuals with severe mental illness (SMI)
- Expert understanding of:
- The IPS model and fidelity principles
- Recovery-oriented and strengths
- based approaches
- Barriers to employment for people
- with SMI
- Knowledge of: NHS systems, governance, and clinical pathways
- Safeguarding frameworks and risk management
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Strong understanding of: Data, outcomes, and performance
- frameworks
- Knowledge of DWP benefits and employment systems
- Understanding of IPS Grow fidelity reviews
- Awareness of local labour market dynamics
- Additional requirements
- Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
- Flexible approach to meet service needs
- Level 7 qualification (Masters degree or equivalent experience)
- -
- Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- -
- Formal leadership/management qualification at Level 7 or demonstrable equivalent leadership experience at a senior level
- Postgraduate qualification in leadership, service improvement, or
- quality improvement
- -
- IPS-specific training (e.g. IPS Grow, fidelity training)
- -
- Coaching, supervision, or practice educator qualification
- Specific Skills
- Ability to lead, motivate and manage staff
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Ability to analyse information and make informed decisions
- Planning and organisational skills to manage competing priorities
- Advanced coaching and supervision capability
- Experience delivering training or presentations
- Digital literacy across NHS reporting systems
- Significant experience in: Secondary mental health services and/or Employment/vocational support services (e.g. IPS)
- Demonstrable experience of: Leading and managing teams/service
- delivery
- Delivering against contractual targets and KPIs Performance management, supervision and staff development
- -
- Experience of multi-agency partnership working (NHS, local authority, DWP, VCSE)
- Experience working with individuals with severe mental illness (SMI)
- Expert understanding of:
- The IPS model and fidelity principles
- Recovery-oriented and strengths
- based approaches
- Barriers to employment for people
- with SMI
- Knowledge of: NHS systems, governance, and clinical pathways
- Safeguarding frameworks and risk management
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Strong understanding of: Data, outcomes, and performance
- frameworks
- Knowledge of DWP benefits and employment systems
- Understanding of IPS Grow fidelity reviews
- Awareness of local labour market dynamics
- Additional requirements
- Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
- Flexible approach to meet service needs
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £49,387 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 16d ago · Closes in 8d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Livewell Southwest
IPS Service Manager
The closing date is 06 September 2026
Job summary
Are you passionate about recovery, employment and improving outcomes for
people with mental health needs? Livewell Southwest is seeking an experienced
and motivated Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Service Manager to lead
and develop our IPS service across community mental health pathways and
recovery inpatient services. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a
well-established service that helps people access and sustain meaningful
employment as part of their recovery journey. The role will lead the delivery
of the IPS service, oversee performance and outcomes, manage a team of IPS
professionals, and ensure employment support is fully integrated within mental
health services.
"please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility"
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity
Main duties of the job
As Service Manager, you will be responsible for developing and
implementing the strategic vision and business plan for the service, ensuring
the delivery of
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